Nearly 30,000 Attend Grand Opening Of Pavilion Park

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- An estimated 28,000 people attended the grand opening weekend at Pavilion Park, the first of the highly anticipated Great Park Neighborhoods, reflecting the excitement surrounding the eclectic community in the heart of Irvine.

"We are thrilled at the amazing turnout,'' said Emile Haddad, CEO of FivePoint Communities, the managing developer for Great Park Neighborhoods, a master-planned community surrounding the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. "We've said that life will be different here and it was gratifying to hear visitors echo that sentiment as they explored the models and enjoyed the park. Our builders reported high interest and strong sales. We believe this is just the beginning.''

Great Park Neighborhoods will become a collection of neighborhoods featuring a unique combination of sustainable building techniques, architectural diversity and features that encourage neighbors to connect with each other and with nature.

"Pavilion Park represents what true public-private partnerships are all about…and it is amazing," said Irvine Mayor Steven Choi. "The only problem is figuring out which model home to buy. They are all so great. This is a wonderful addition to our already outstanding city."

Chairman of the Orange County Great Park Corporation and Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Lalloway said: "I have never felt better about any other vote I have cast. I can't tell you how proud of this project I am."

And Irvine City Councilwoman Christina Shea said: "I am so pleased to be back on the City Council at this time to open this wonderful new community."

The benefits of Great Park Neighborhoods extend well beyond the city limits of Irvine, said Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer. "When I came here today I found an enchanting space," Spitzer said of Pavilion Park. "We are all in this together. This is about our county coming together and believing in something. We will continue to fulfill the promises that we made not just to Irvine, but to all of Orange County."

Pavilion Park, named after the centerpiece 5.5-acre park that features a pool, basketball courts, greenhouse and tot lot, consists of 726 single-family homes and detached condominiums currently priced from between the mid $700,000s to more than $1.5 million. The variety and adaptability of 31 different floor plans in classic American Heritage architecture reflects the larger vision for Great Park Neighborhoods as an example of how land can be strategically reimagined to sustain a changing and growing population.

"Creating a community that provides choices, diversity and connectivity is our vision," Haddad said.

Later phases of Great Park Neighborhoods are planned to include mixed-use retail, entertainment and office development to create nearby jobs, which continues the City of Irvine's tradition of promoting a balance of quality jobs and housing. In addition, new school campuses will be built to ensure that residents have access to quality public education in their neighborhood that Irvine is known for.

For more than 50 years, the land on which Great Park Neighborhoods is being built served as Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in the heart of Orange County. The base closure in 1999 began a long and complicated process to convert the land from a military airfield into a vibrant and diverse community. At the grand opening event, many of the elected officials who helped guide the project expressed their support about the long-awaited moment.

About FivePoint Communities

FivePoint Communities Management, Inc. is an independent real estate development and management company. FivePoint Communities currently oversees some of the largest mixed-use, master-planned communities in California. They include: Valencia, developed in northern Los Angeles County by Newhall Land and Farming Company; Newhall Ranch in northern Los Angeles County; Great Park Neighborhoods (formerly Marine Corps Air Station El Toro) in the City of Irvine in Orange County; Hunters Point Shipyard/Candlestick Point in San Francisco, and Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay.